As we all know many people view their dog as just another member of the family…..so naturally when it comes around to time to travel on vacationthey also want to bring the family dog on those trips!.

This might just be to a local beach or even across statelines, but many people now like to take their best friend when they decide to visit another country….there are obviously certain restrictions that must be adhered to.

One of the things that you must get is the right carriage to transport the dog on the trip, you can’t literally carry them onto a plane with your hand-luggage, it’s not allowed!. So a good strong & secure carrying cage is required.

Aside from the cage, you must also have a dog health certificate since the pet may carry into the country certain diseases which may affect people or other animals.

Those that don’t will have to be quarantined for 4 days before being allowed in.

If the traveler is entering the United States and custom agents have found the dog to be unsafe, this will have to be returned back to it’s country of origin or destroyed!.

The owner of the pet will also have to shoulder the expenses during the stay at the quarantine or impounding area.

How does the dog health certificate work? The people in charge will first check for any visible signs of disease. Should the dog looks like it is ill, a licensed vet will do a more extensive examination.

Another concern is the threat of rabies. The dog should be given a shot 30 days before entering the United States. This rule however does not apply to puppies less than 6 months of age since these are considered to be free of rabies according to the U.S. Public Health Service.

The dog health certificate should be obtained written in English and must have the date of when the dog was given the shot including the name and license of the vet who administered the shot. Should no date of expiration be mentioned, this is still valid as long as it is not less than a year when this was given.

On the other hand, if this has not been given, this has to be done not more than 4 days after the arrival in the United States. The dog will still have to be quarantined for another 30 days after this was completed to make sure that the animal is safe.

If the dog was given a shot less than 30 days before arriving in the United States, the animal will also have to be quarantined for a month in a customs facility before receiving it’s dog health certificate. After three months, puppies that were not given a rabies shot can already get one but should be quarantines for a month.

The dog health certificate also applies to other animals that are brought into the United States. The restrictions of other countries may be different and some do not even allow an animal to be quarantined since this may affect the ecosystem.

Before you decide to take your dog to another country, it will be a good idea to check on the requirements to avoid the hassle and trouble of having the dog placed in customs and paying for the expensive costs while it is there.

You can check on the customs regulations for that country on the internet or ask the travel agent who might be able to answer these queries.

The dog health certificate is a definite requirement especially if the traveler is from overseas. Rules are in place so that the animal doesn’t pose a danger or bring in a new disease that can affect the lives of many.